A personal blog by a graying (mostly Anglo with light African-American roots) gay left leaning liberal progressive married college-educated Buddhist Baha'i BBC/NPR-listening Professor Emeritus now following the Dharma in Minas Gerais, Brasil.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Quote of the Day
found on JMG
From JMG: Olsen & Boies To Rest Case Monday
Perry vs. Schwarzenegger lawyer David Boies tells the Wall Street Journal today that his side will rest their case tomorrow. "We're pleased with the way it has gone," said David Boies, an attorney for the gay couples who want to wed. He said he set out to prove that marriage was an important right, that gays were harmed by being denied that right and that marriage wouldn't be hurt by extending it to same-sex couples. "We've proven all three of those," he said. Judge Vaughn Walker will decide whether the 2008 voter initiative that limited marriage to a man and a woman codified discrimination or protected a legitimate state interest. This is the first federal challenge to state gay-marriage bans. Defense lawyer Andrew Pugno said his side would present evidence from experts that traditional definitions of marriage between heterosexual couples have special benefit for children and for society.The bigots are expected to present a short defense as four of their six witnesses have withdrawn over claims that violent homosexuals will attack their families if they do.
Dolly Parton says gay rights are a 'human' issue
Dolly Parton has said she believes gay rights are "human rights", rather than being a political issue.
The singer told The Times: "I'm not a poster child for gay rights by any means.
"But I have so many gay and lesbian friends and they’re just so pure and so true. That's not politics to me. That's human rights."
Saturday, January 23, 2010
From Belirico: Subject: Long Hair, Rifle Sights, & Gay Corporations
The Prop 8 trial continued this week and we kept up our daily coverage and live multi-source Twitter feed. That wasn't the only major story this week though. Check out some of the great posts we ran this week:
Sunday
A Problem and a Proposal
Filed by: D Gregory Smith
http://www.facebook.com/l/1bb22;www.bilerico.com/2010/01/the_problem_with_bisexuals.php
Hair, gender, and power
Filed by: Alex Blaze
http://www.facebook.com/l/1bb22;www.bilerico.com/2010/01/hair_gender_and_power.php
Monday
Donor-Turned-Boyfriend after Break-Up
Filed by: Michele O'Mara
http://www.facebook.com/l/1bb22;www.bilerico.com/2010/01/donor-turned-boyfriend_after_break-up.php
Educating Congress
Filed by: Dr. Jillian T. Weiss
http://www.facebook.com/l/1bb22;www.bilerico.com/2010/01/educating_congress.php
Tuesday
Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition... Literally Filed by: Waymon Hudson http://www.facebook.com/l/1bb22;www.bilerico.com/2010/01/praise_the_lord_and_pass_the_ammunition_literally.php
Caster Semenya: Sports Authorities in Gender Gridlock Filed by: Patricia Nell Warren http://www.facebook.com/l/1bb22;www.bilerico.com/2010/01/caster_semenya_gender_gridlock.php
Wednesday
IN Marriage Amendment Moves Forward
Filed by: Bil Browning
Massachusetts Is Not Invincible
Filed by: Sara Whitman
http://www.facebook.com/l/1bb22;www.bilerico.com/2010/01/massachusetts_is_not_invincible.php
Thursday
Iowa Catholic Church Fires Woman Over Transgender Counseling Filed by: Betty Greene Salwak http://www.facebook.com/l/1bb22;www.bilerico.com/2010/01/iowa_catholic_church_fires_woman_over_transgender.php
More Queer/Trans Maine Activists Speaking Out Against Equality Filed by: R. Conrad http://www.facebook.com/l/1bb22;www.bilerico.com/2010/01/more_queertrans_maine_activist_speaking_out_agains.php
Friday
Now That Corporations Are People, Can They Marry Each Other? What If They're Gay?
Filed by: David Badash
Rep Paul Scott Blows Smoke on Transgender Michigan Filed by: Keri Renault http://www.facebook.com/l/1bb22;www.bilerico.com/2010/01/rep_paul_scott_blows_smoke_on_transgender_michigan.php
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Friday, January 22, 2010
A Message from PFAW
Subject: Stop the Hostile Takeover of the Constitution
Yesterday, by a single vote, the conservative majority in the Supreme Court staged a hostile takeover of American democracy on behalf of corporations.
Alternatives like public financing can help a little, but no matter how many tax payer dollars the government uses to try to offset corporate influence it will never be enough to compete with the bottomless coffers of corporations. For this reason and many more, we must amend the Constitution.
As you may know, People For the American Way has spent many years fighting against destructive amendments to the Constitution proposed by the Right Wing around issues like flag burning, school prayer and banning gay marriage, (you remember those) so our decision to support an amendment to the Constitution in this instance was not taken lightly. As you also know, People For the American Way has spent almost 30 years fighting hard for freedom of speech. But yesterday's decision is a perversion of the First Amendment and a departure from over 100 years of established legal precedent. The very foundation of our democracy could depend on our ability to overturn it.
Here's what you can do to help:
1. Help build the petition calling on congressional leaders to pass a Constitutional amendment: http://www.facebook.com/l/d13cd;bit.ly/6OC9aa
2. Become a "fan" of our effort on Facebook and tell your friends about it: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amending-the-Constitution-so-Corporations-Cant-Buy-Elections/257229177966
3. Donate to the campaign to overturn this radical decision: http://www.facebook.com/l/d13cd;bit.ly/4MFecY
Thank you for standing with us. Together we can stop corporations' hostile takeover of our democracy.
Sincerely,
Michael B. Keegan, President

